As long as seminaries fail to teach what the Bible assumes about nations and gender we will continue to have soft-woke pastors who think they’re just being biblical because “imago dei = egalitarianism” “every tribe, tongue, and nation = local church diversity telos” and “women can’t be in pastoral office = they can have any other leadership.”
The created order the authors of Scripture presumed is now universally forgotten in favor of blank-slate biblicalism.
We need history. We need reason. We need tradition. Not as final authorities but as tools and fences.
Conversations That Matter
1.) I’m sorry, but this not soft WOKEism. This is hard WOKEism. We have gotten so used to WOKE we ourselves are willing to call hard WOKE, “Soft WOKE.” Now, to be sure, doubtless there are even greater degrees of “WOKEness” but lets not allow ourselves to believe that the above is “Soft WOKE.” Churches and ministers that are that kind of WOKE should be abandoned with the purpose of saving your own soul.
2.) Of course Blank-slate Biblicalism is a non-thing. They really are not blank slate but are starting with WOKE presuppositions on their slate and so are finding it confirmed in Scripture. The problem is not that they are really “Blank-slate.” That is impossible. The problem is that their slate has scribbled all over it anti-Christ presuppositions.
3.) History, reason, and tradition are only as good as the theology they presuppose. They can not exist independently of theology. Our problem is not that we do not have history, reason, or tradition. Our problem is that Christian theology is not informing our history, reason, and tradition. Instead an alien theology is informing what we call “history,” “reason,” and “tradition.” History, reason, and tradition never exist independent of some a-priori theology. Therefore if history, reason, and tradition are going to help us at all we have to get our theology right, and we have to start explicitly connecting the dots between our history, reason, and tradition and our Biblical theology. If we don’t make those connections then history, reason, and tradition will not and can not serve as tools and fences.
4.) It is true that history, reason, and tradition can be tools but they are only useful tools if we see the connection between our history, reason, and tradition, and the theology that of which they are expressions.
“Our problem is that Christian theology is not informing our history, reason, and tradition.”
Very well said, and it explains why MOST churches in America today are so widely missing the mark.
Off topic– looking for a solid reformed church in my area (sorry, Michigan is a bit of a haul for Sunday morning) and having some trouble. Can you recommend any resources or even point me to some you are familiar with? I live central/southeast Ohio between Zanesville and Columbus. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Stilicho,
Are you near to this city?
providence opc In Pataskala, OH
About 20 miles. Thanks! Will check it out. Much appreciated.